The 1:1 Fund helps local CSA programs raise funds from individual donors, which are used to boost the savings of program participants, most of whom are from low-income households. Since 2012, the 1:1 Fund has raised more than $3 million to seed the futures of CSA participants. The 2019 1:1 Fund Impact Report highlights another successful year of fundraising that helped the CSA field reach new heights. Although not covered in this report, the COVID-19 pandemic has presented new challenges for the CSA field and our partners in 2020. 1:1 Fund partners are responding by adapting their programs to engage participants in new ways and supporting the immediate financial and educational needs of participating families.

The 1:1 Fund’s National Match Pool, which matches donations to 1:1 Fund partners during quarterly fundraising campaigns, is funded primarily by the generous support of Prudential, along with contributions from the social savings app Kidfund and individual donors. During the past eight years, supporters from across the country have made donations to boost the savings of CSA participants, while the 1:1 Fund provides matching dollars to leverage the generosity of those donors. In 2019, the 1:1 Fund expanded its reach, with 18 partners serving 107,000 children and youth receiving $532,928 through a combination of campaigns supported by nearly 1,100 individual donations and funds from the National Match Pool.

Other highlights from the 2019 Impact Report include:

• The 1:1 Fund held its largest fundraising campaign to date, raising more than $250,000 on Giving Tuesday. Inversant set the pace, with $73,629 raised.
• 1:1 Fund partners increased their reach and hit new savings benchmarks in 2019. St. Louis College Kids increased enrollment to more than 16,000 participating children, with more than $1.1 million saved through program funds and family deposits. Kindergarten to College in San Francisco grew to more than 43,000 participants in kindergarten through ninth grade, with a total of $7.6 million in savings.
• The 1:1 Fund also brought on two new partners, Kickstart to Career-Muskegon County and CollegeBound Saint Paul, which together raised $82,368 in their first year. 

The 2019 report shows that the 1:1 Fund and its partner programs continue to have a personal impact on students, their families, teachers and principals. “This is an awesome program and one I wish was around when my kids were growing up,” said a grandparent of a Kickstart to Career–Muskegon County participant. Araceli Lara, the parent of a Kindergarten to College participant in San Francisco, also praised the program, saying, “I appreciate that there is an incentive that the City contributes. It feels like the work that I am doing to save for my daughter’s future is being recognized and supported.”

The program has helped inspire students to focus on long-term goals and prepare for the future. “I plan on using the money I save in my college savings account to live in a dorm room and experience all college has to offer,” said Teagan, an eighth-grade student in the By Degrees Foundation CSA program. “This will also help me stay focused and successful as an academic student. After college, I want to support other students in the same way.”

The 1:1 Fund’s success would not be possible without the support of individual donors, the dedication of our partners and the commitment of CSA participants and their families to building long-term savings and ensuring a bright future for children. Congratulations to all our partners on another successful year!

For the latest updates on the CSA field, and to learn about upcoming CSA events and webinars, sign up for the Campaign for Every Kid’s Future and follow us on Twitter @savingsforkids.